Nutrition-control device

Abstract

The invention provides a nutrition-control device and method for a continuous follow-up of the daily consumption during a prophylactic or therapeutic diet, enabling the active participation of a dieter in selecting the menu, and stimulating the dieter's motivation.

1 . A nutrition-control device for a continuous follow-up of the daily consumption during a diet with a predetermined daily energy/nutrient intake, enabling the active participation of a dieter in selecting the final menu, and stimulating the dieter's motivation, comprising
 i) a plurality of exchange entities (food-notes), each being allotted a certain energy/nutrition equivalent (exchange-value), and each entity being allotted a list of food items (items-list), each item having the energy/nutrition content equal to said exchange-value, said food-notes being used as “game money” to be exchanged for food-items during the daily consumption;   ii) a site for locating food-notes to be exchanged during the day for food items, said site (oven-site) visualizing the remaining amount of food allowed for the consumption that day, said food-notes (daily-wad) having a sum of the exchange values essentially equal to a predetermined daily intake at the beginning of the day, said sum being determined by a health professional but items being freely selected from each list of items by the dieter; and   iii) a site for storing, and essentially hiding, food-notes (store-room site) that are not in the oven-site;   for use in treating or preventing a disorder necessitating a diet with a predetermined daily energy/nutrient intake, the conditions selected from obesity, gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic disorders, hepatic disorders, renal failure, cardiovascular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, cystic fibrosis, hypersensitivity disorders, and diabetes.   
     
     
         2 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , enabling a continuous follow-up of the daily consumption for a diet with a predetermined daily energy/nutrient intake, wherein only such food item may be consumed that is on an items-list of at least one food-note of said daily-wad, and wherein each item on an item-list may replace any other item in the same list during the consumption; and wherein always after consuming a food item, one food-note having in its items-list the consumed item is moved from said oven-site to said store-room site. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said food-note contains data comprising an exchange-value, an items-list, a food type, and optionally further recommendations and information related to special diets or food items. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said food-notes differ in colors according to the food type of the items they comprise. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein said food type is selected from the group consisting of starch, fat, protein, vegetable, fruit, sweets, and carbohydrates. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said food-note is a physical object, such as a paper card. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said food-note is a data set in an electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said oven-site is represented by a group of bags or pockets, bound together, into which food-notes are inserted. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said daily-wad is selected repeatedly on the daily base, while removing the food-notes from said selected group as the allowed servings are consumed during the day. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said diet is a weight-reducing diet with a predetermined restricted daily calorie intake or a diet with controlled intake of at least one nutrient. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein said diet is a therapy-accompanying diet or a prophylactic diet. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein said diet is a balanced diet. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein said prophylactic diet reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. 
     
     
         14 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said food-notes are divided to several groups according to the type of food items they comprise. 
     
     
         15 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said exchange-values are kcal exchange-values, and wherein said items-list comprises servings described by the type and quantity of food items. 
     
     
         16 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is a wallet having a plurality of pockets or bags for inserting paper or plastic food-notes. 
     
     
         17 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is an electronic organizer, displaying images of food-notes on the screen. 
     
     
         18 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 16 , wherein said pockets or bags enable to view as many food-notes as possible simultaneously, providing an easy assessment of the remaining food-notes. 
     
     
         19 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 16 , comprising a stable outer cover, and pockets arranged as pages in said wallet to serve as said oven-site, wherein said pockets are at least partially transparent or otherwise adjusted so as to enable an easy review of their content. 
     
     
         20 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a non-transparent pocket as a store-room site, for non-used food-notes or for the food-notes removed from the oven-site. 
     
     
         21 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 17 , being programmed to comprise virtual food-notes in form of data sheets, created as cards, each card comprising a calorie exchange value and an items-list, together with the information related to the type of food, and eventually other useful information. 
     
     
         22 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 17 , comprising two memory sites, one for locating the food-notes selected for the daily consumption, another one for storing all the remaining food-notes, wherein after entering into the device the fact of consuming a food serving, the corresponding food-note disappears from a virtual oven-site and appears in a virtual store-room site. 
     
     
         23 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 17 , wherein the food-notes corresponding to the daily-wad are arranged on one screen, and gradually either disappear or change color, as food items are consumed. 
     
     
         24 . A nutrition-control device according to  claim 1 , combining a physical wallet or booklet with an electronic organizer.